By Brittany Schaaf, St. Charles City-County Library
The St. Charles City-County Library is thrilled to announce the One Read Challenge, an exciting community reading experience that aims to bring our county together through a shared love of literature. For our fourth annual One Read Challenge, we have chosen two books, each focusing on the compelling era of World War II.
The first book is SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys. This historical fiction novel, set during World War II, follows the story of refugees trying to escape the war’s final dangers, only to find themselves aboard a ship with a target on its hull. Readers of Markus Zusak’s THE BOOK THIEF and Kate Quinn will devour this pick.
The second book is BOMB: THE RACE TO BUILD AND STEAL THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON by Steven Sheinkin. This thrilling award-winning nonfiction book takes readers back to 1938, during the scientific discoveries that enabled atom splitting, the military intelligence operations that occurred in rival countries, and the work of brilliant scientists hidden at Los Alamos. This middle-grade read will captivate school-age readers and adults alike.
Both novels offer gripping, insightful views into one of history’s most tumultuous times through the lens of deeply human stories and meticulously researched facts. Each title is available in various formats - grab your copy as a physical book, dive into the audiobook, enjoy the convenience of an eBook on Libby, or immerse yourself in a graphic novel adaptation.
The One Read Challenge is open to readers of all ages from September 2 to October 18. Register at any library branch, on the Beanstack app, or online at www.stchlibrary.org/one-read. Library branches will take the story beyond the book pages by hosting a variety of programs and events, including a Dance Hall Boogie at the Spencer Road Branch on Friday, October 11, at 6:30 p.m. and two events with the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum on September 9 and October 9.
During the final week of the challenge, Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin will join us for an evening of history and mystery at the Spencer Road Branch on Wednesday, October 16, at 7 p.m. to discuss their novels, as well as their new middle-grade historical adventure, THE BLETCHLEY RIDDLE. This event with Main Street Books St. Charles is free to attend and is recommended for kids in grades 3-12 and adults.
Let’s embark on this literary journey together, exploring the depths of human resilience and the complexities of history. This project is made possible by the Friends of the St. Charles City-County Library.
Discover other events coming up in October at the Boone’s Trail Branch and Augusta Branch and register online at stchlibrary.org:
Discover Crafting: Fall Pour Over Acrylic Painting* - Tues., Oct. 1: 10 to 11 a.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - adults, tweens, and teens. Join us to create two beautiful paintings on 8” x 8” canvases using an acrylic paint pouring method featuring seasonal fall colors.
Crafting Connections - I Love Quilts!* - Tues. Oct. 1: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. What will you create? Meet other quilt lovers at this monthly event.
Canasta - Hand & Foot* - Tues., Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: 1 to 3 p.m. Thurs., Oct.3, 10, 17, 24, 31: 1 to 3:30 p.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - adults. Need to get out of the house? Learn to play Hand & Foot Canasta!
Coffee and Conversation - Thurs., Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: 9 to 10 a.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Enjoy a cup of coffee, a sweet treat, and conversation with others in the community.
Crafting Connections - Yarn Arts - Thurs., October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: 2 to 4 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults and teens. Other yarn enthusiasts will keep you company while you work on your knit, crochet, or embroidery project.
Crafting Connections - Make-It-Monday* - Mon., Oct. 7: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Grab a friend, come to the Augusta Branch, and work on your unfinished projects! Spend all day or just a little while.
Crafting Connections: Sip & Stitch* - Mon., Oct. 7: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - adults and teens. Bring your current work in progress and join other yarn artists as we sip, stitch, and talk about our projects.
Grow Your Reader: Story Time - Tues., Oct. 8: 3 to 3:30 p.m. Augusta Branch - children. Grow Your Reader with stories, songs, and activities that enhance early literacy skills.
"Read to a Dog" - Tail Waggers - Love on a Leash* - Thurs., Oct. 10: 5 to 6 p.m. Boone's Trail Branch - children. Kids can practice reading aloud to an attentive, adorable dog.
Crafting Connections - English Paper Piecing* - Tues., Oct. 15: 2 to 4 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Learn how to English Paper Piece, a fun method of sewing fabric pieces together.
Concert on the Porch with paulO'Duo - Tues., Oct. 15: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Augusta Branch - everyone. Join us for a beautiful fall evening of music with paulO'Duo. They will be playing movie and television theme songs, show tunes, and jingles. Be ready for some audience participation and related trivia questions.
Halloween Safety* - Mon., Oct. 21: 10 to 11 a.m. Augusta Branch - children and families. The St. Charles County Ambulance District will present a special program on Halloween Safety. Tour a real ambulance, listen to a story, make a spooky craft at the Library, and get a Halloween glow bracelet to make your Halloween a safe one!
Book Discussion - MISS BENSON’S BEETLE by Rachel Joyce* - Mon., Oct. 21: 2 to 3 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Margery Benson, a sensible schoolmarm and lonely spinster, is just trying to get through life in 1950. One day, she reaches her breaking point, abandons her job and her tidy, circumscribed life, and sets out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of an insect that may or may not exist: the golden beetle of New Caledonia. Margery hires Enid Pretty to be her assistant, even though she is not the companion she had in mind. Together they will find themselves drawn into an adventure that exceeds all expectations for two proper British ladies.
Book Discussion - UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by TJ Klune and LOCAL MISSING WOMAN by Mary Kubica* - Mon., Oct. 21: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Boone's Trail Branch - adults. UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR - When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead. When Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead. But even in death, he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days. LOCAL WOMAN MISSING - Shelby is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. The case goes cold after an elusive search that yields more questions than answers. Now, 11 years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find.
*Register at stchlibrary.org/join-class-or-event or call Boone’s Trail at 636-398-6200 or Augusta at 636-228-4855 for more information about classes. The Boone’s Trail and Augusta branches are open Mon., Tues., and Thurs., from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sat., 9 a.m. to noon. All St. Charles City-County Library branches will be closed on Mon., Oct. 14 for Columbus Day.
